On
May Day, international workers’ day, a huge demonstration of
between 500,000-1 million people took place in Kathmandu. Called by
the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), people came
from all over Nepal to make their voices heard.

It
was the largest demonstration since the fall of the centuries-old
monarchy and was the culmination of a growing series of mass
demonstrations and strikes aimed at restoring civilian supremacy and
democracy. Despite right-wing rumours and slanders, the marchers were
unarmed and there was no violence.

The
demands of the demonstration were for the illegitimate government of
Prime Minister MK Nepal to resign and allow a government based on the
will of the people to take its place.

MK
Nepal, who has never won an election, has refused to stand aside. In
response, an indefinite general strike began on May 2 that aims to
continue until the demands of the people’s movement are granted.

In
the 2008 constituent assembly, the Maoists won the largest number of
seats — more than twice their nearest rivals. The Maoists have
pushed for a transformation of the Nepalese state inherited from the
monarchy to grant previously unheard of rights for the poor, workers,
peasants, national minorities, lower castes and women.

They
have carried out widespread popular consultations to seek to create a
genuinely pro-people constitution.

The
elite, terrified of the growing power of the poor majority, sabotaged
the Maoist-led government. The heads of the Nepalese army, supporters
of the deposed king, refused to implement the peace accords that
ended Nepal’s armed conflict. The army chiefs, backed by the
parties of the status quo in the assembly, refused to subordinate
themselves to the elected government.

Unwilling
to accept military rule, the UCPN-M was forced to leave government —
in violation of the people’s will. The UCPN-M has now received two
powerful mandates: the 2008 constituent assembly election results and
the massive May 1 demonstration.

The
deadline for a new constitution is May 28, which the existing
government says it will not meet. Through the general strike, the
people are fighting for the key demand of the pro-democracy movement
that overthrew the king — a new, democratic constitution.

Having
overthrown a king and won a republic, the Nepalese people are now
fighting for a “New Nepal” that advances their interests.

The
signatories to this statement:

• Support the struggle, led by the UCPN-M, to restore civilian supremacy and democracy, and to continue the process of creating a pro-people constitution, and seek to publicise and build solidarity with Nepalese people’s struggle.

• Call on the Nepalese army and the parties in government to abide by, and implement, the peace agreements that ended Nepal’s armed conflict. The people’s will should be respected; there must be no violent suppression of the people’s movement fighting for democracy and social justice.

• Call on all foreign powers, especially the United States and India, to cease interference in Nepal’s internal affairs. The Nepalese people must be allowed to determine their own fate. The long-oppressed people of Nepal are making their voices heard. The red flag is flying in Kathmandu. A new revolutionary front is developing in one the world’s poorest nations, with Asia’s lowest life expectancy.

As
the posters by Nepalese unions calling for the mass demonstration on
May Day declared: “Workers of the world unite!”